Politics of Mava

The politics of Mava takes place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency as set out in the Mavean Constitution. Under this system, the Governor exercises the duties of head of state in the absence of the president of Atitlan, with an elected Mava Council proposing laws, national policy, reviewing and approving the budget and finance, and holding the government to account. The Leader of the Mava Council is elected by the council to lead the government.

Mava, an archipelago in the Sarosan Ocean, is a self-governing territory that is officially described as an unincorporated territorial area of Atitlan. Executive power is exercised on behalf of the President of Atitlan by an Atitlanese-appointed Governor acting on the advice of the Executive Council. The Governor is non-resident and their powers are usually exercised by an Administrator, who is almost always a resident Mavean. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Council. The judiciary is independence of the executive and legislative branches. Military defence and foreign policy remains the responsibility of Atitlan.

Executive branch

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Jesús Juárez Hurtado	Socialist Party	11 March 2021
Governor (non-res.)	Tomas Rabellino	(None)	4 March 2020
Administrator	Asamak Umaakasarmuk	(None)	19 August 2021
Leader of the Council	Kausaanek Malaati	(None)	22 March 2023

The President of Atitlan is represented by a non-resident Governor of the Mava Islands, who is usually a career civil servant rather than a diplomat. A resident Administrator, appointed by the Governor, serves as the Governor's representative to the territory. The Administrator is responsible for discharging the duties of the head of state, and also serves as the liaison between the Governor and the Mava Council. The Executive Council for Mava advises the Administrator on the exercising of their powers.

The head of government is the Leader of the Mava Council. The leader is a member of the Mava Council elected by a majority of councillors to head the cabinet. Generally, the council elects as leader the councillor who received the most votes in the preceding election, although this is not a formal requirement. The Mava Council Cabinet is the executive branch of government, consisting of the leader and other councillors nominated by the leader and approved by the Council.

Proposals to have a directly-elected leader were proposed in 2008, although they were never implemented.

Current government

Following the resignation of Paqtuq Maagamarak as leader of the council, the Administrator appointed Kausaanek Malaati as leader following his election by the council. The current members of his cabinet are:

Leader of the Council

• Kausaanek Malaati

Portfolio Leads

• Anaayak Nelagak (Finance and Growth)
• Nua Kiuiaakii (Health, Social Services and Community Safety)
• Kipvituk Aanaqavik (Roads, Transport, and Communities)
• Alaqajaq Suujuat (Education and Work)

Also attending Cabinet

• Tilurut Qurlivitaneq (Advocate General)

Advocate General

The Advocate General for Mava is appointed by the Administrator to serve as the principal legal adviser to the government. Initially a non-political figure, since 1998 they have always been a member of the council. They sit as a non-voting member of the Council and serve as de facto justice minister in the Mava government. The Advocate General's powers and responsibilities include advising the government on the law handling criminal matters, drafting laws, and revising and publishing any laws pertaining to the islands.

The Advocate General is also serves as the government's appointed lawyer in cases brought before the Supreme Court.

Legislative branch

The Mava Council (Maava Taapiit) is the legislative branch, consisting of 10 seats. All members (Maakaatlaani; Councillors) are elected in one at-large constituency via the block vote method. Five members are elected every four years, with electors voting for up to five candidates. The five candidates with the most votes are elected. In addition to the 10 elected members are a number of unofficial attendants appointed by the Administrator. These include the Auditor and the Commander of Atitlanese Forces in Mava. The Administrator may also sit as an unofficial attendant. Unelected members are not counted amongst the members of the council, and they may not speak or vote.

The Council passes three types of laws: Acts of the Council (primary legislation), Orders (secondary legislation), and Ordinances (regulations for government bodies). All three require the approval of the Council and assent by the Administrator, although it may only approve or reject orders and ordinances, without the ability to amend.

There are no political parties on the island and all councillors sit as independents. Mava operates on the basis of a consensus government, with decision making reached on the basis of reaching a broad consensus.

Current membership

Following the 2022 council elections, the current councillors are:

Name	Since	Notes
Kausaanek Malaati	9 May 1997	Leader of the Council (2023-present)
Anaayak Nelagak	9 May 2005	Portfolio Lead for Finance and Growth (2021-present)
Nua Kiuiaakii	7 May 2018	Portfolio Lead for Health, Social Services and Community Safety (2023-present)
Kipvituk Aanaqavik	8 May 2006	Portfolio Lead for Roads, Transport, and Communities (2020-present)
Alaqajaq Suujuat	9 May 2005	Portfolio Lead for Education and Work (2021-present)
Tilurut Qurlivitaneq	9 May 2005	Advocate General (2023-present)
Mauka Urraakitilaq	7 May 2018
Paqtuq Maagamarak	9 May 2005
Taarjut Niunak	7 May 2012	Chairman of the Council (2021-present)
Qinijak Turuk	9 May 2022

Judicial branch

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Island Court, and the Summary Court. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislature, although it has links with the other branches through the Advocate General. The courts hierarchy is structured as follows:

• Supreme Court: the highest court in the hierarchy, responsible for hearing appeals and ruling on disputes over the constitution. It may also hear any civil or criminal case of legal signifiance. It is an ad-hoc body with justices appointed when required. Only the Chief Justice is a permanent appointee.
• Court of Appeal: the first court of appeals. In the absence of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal is the highest court in the hierarchy. It is a semi-permanent body, with three justices appointed to serve on a permanent basis and further justices appointed to sit only for one or more trials.
• Island Court: the main criminal court, responsible for holding trials for criminal violations. It also hears more serious civil cases.
• Summary Court: the lowest court, which hears minor infractions and less-serious civil cases. Most trials end only in fines or community service rather than imprisonment.

The courts system resembles the system in Atitlan, although there are strong local influences. The Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings, although it has largely limited these to appeals and cases of "significance to the state" (e.g., treason or terrorism). The Chief Justice is the highest legal officer in Mava and is usually an advocate or retired judge. The Chief Justice is not resident but travels to Mava if and when necessary to hear cases.

Administrative divisions

Mava has only two administrative divisions, which are largely ceremonial and have no local government function. These are Inner (Itiqip) and Outer (Mtakip). Inner consists of the town of Mava and its surrounding areas, which is the only major populated area. Outer covers the rest of the territory, including the remainder of Great Mava and the islands of Little Mava and Taak.

Political and civic pressure groups

1. Mavean General Workers' Union
2. General Assembly of Mavean Employers
3. Assembly of Churches of God
4. Union of Fishermen

See also

• Politics of Mava
• Culture of Mava

External links

• Mava. The Global Factbook. United Nations